Control device for a winding machine



Dec 13, 1966 R. JENNY CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 Dec. 13, 1966 R. JENNY 3,291,406

CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R40 HE Tam CTW 0. KQMM United States Patent C(BNTROL DEVICE FOR A WINDING MACHINE Rudolf .lenny, Thalwil, Switzerland, assignor to Maschinenfabrik Schweiter AG., Horgen, Switzerland, a

corporation of Switzerland Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,895 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 9, 1962, 5,570/62; lune 1, 1962, 6,680/62 15 Claims. (Cl. 242-65.)

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending United States application, Serial No. 277,810, filed May 3, 1963, now Patent No. 3,224,693 and entitled Improved Control Device for a Winding Machine.

The present invention relates to an improved control mechanism for controlling the winding units of an automatic winding machine. l

In prior known automatic winding machines there is provided for the drive of the individual winding bobbins a motor-driven shaft, common to all bob-bin locations or winding units, and to which each of the winding bobbins are operatively connected in a manner enabling uncoupling or disengagement. If the thread is not present at a bobbin location or winding unit, for instance due to yarn or thread breakage, this condition is determined by a suitable sensing member, for example a feeler which cooperates with the thread, and thereafter the relevant drive spindle for the Winding unit is disengaged and brake-d. Then a mechanism conveniently referred to as the automatic or automatic mechanismwhich advantageously auto matically remedies the thread breakage sucks in the ends of the threads to be knotted together and knots them. Additionally, means are provided through the intermediary of which the drive spindle has imparted thereto a reverse movement necessary for the suction operation which is at a reduced rotational speed with respect to the normal or operating rotational speed. Upon completion of the knotting operation the spindle of the winding bobbin is again coupled in or engaged, so that it is caused to rotate with the desired rotational speed in the forward direction.

However, a disadvantage of such known type winding machine is that, the winding bobbin upon completion of the knotting operation is immediately again brought up to its full rotational speed without first determining the renewed presence of the thread or yarn. As it has been discovered in practical operation, however, the knotting operation can prove unsuccessful, or the thread can possess imperfections in the region directly adjacent the knotting location, which can then cause a renewed yarn or thread breakage. Due to the relatively large lapse of time from the moment of switching to the full rotational speed and up to the time of determination of thread breakage and again rendering the relevant winding unit stationaryowing to the inertia of the mechanical uncoupling means and the large moving masses which are to be brake-dthe high peripheral speed of the winding bobbin is maintained for such a long period of time that the thread end can easily be pressed or imbedded into the windings of the yarn package previously formed on said winding bobbin. This can result in the condition that the suction force of the thread suction device is then no longer sufficient to remove the thread from the winding bobbin.

Accordingly, the present invention has as one of its prime objects to provide an improved control device which effectively overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known devices.

The present invention is generally characterized by the fact that means are provided for achieving a forward running of each winding bobbin upon completion of the knotting operation at a reduced rotational speed with 'ice respect to the normal rotational speed, and further, that control means are provided which, upon determination of the renewed presence of the thread or yarn, permit switching of the relevant winding unit from its forward running at the aforesaid reduced rotational speed to the normal forward running speed. By virtue of such construction of the control device it is now possible to considerably reduce the danger of the thread or yarn end from becoming imbedded or pressed into the yarn package on the winding bobbin as aforedescribed, since the winding bobbin upon completion of the knotting operation initially rotates at a reduced rotational speed; and indeed for such length of time until the yarn feeler has determined the renewed presence of the yarn, whereupon the winding unit is re-engaged and thereby again brought up to its normal rotational speed.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved control device for the winding units of a winding machine enabling effective braking of the relevant winding unit when the thread is no longer being wound onto the winding bobbin thereof, then suitably reverses rotation of the winding bobbin in a manner errnitting execution of a thread locating and knotting operation, and upon completion of the aforesaid knotting operation rotates the winding bobbin at a reduced forward running speed with respect to the normal forward running speed until it has been determined that the thread has again been knotted and is present for renewed winding, whereupon the winding bobbin is then brought from the reduced running speed up to said normal running speed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for a winding machine which first determines after thread breakage has occurred whether the supposedly knotted thread is again intact and in a condition for further winding before placing the relevant winding unit into its normal operating condition.

St ll another important object of this invention is the provision of an improved control mechanism for winding machines and the like which substantially prevents or minimizes the danger that a broken thread or yarn end will become imbedded in the yarn package of the winding bobbin.

Yet a further important object of the present invention is the provision of an improved control mechanism for winding machines and the like permitting braking of the winding unit directly at the winding bobbin when thread breakage or exhaustion occurs, to thereby prevent or considerably minimize the danger that a broken thread or yarn end will become imbed-ded in the yarn package of the winding bobbin of said Winding unit.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of inventive control device arranged at a Winding unit of a cross-winding machine; and

FIGURES 2 to 5 schematically illustrate the winding unit and control device depicted in FIGURE 1 in different operating positions.

Referring now to the drawings where only enough of the winding machine or cross-winder has been illustrated to enable one skilled in the art to fully understand the underlying principles of the invention, it will be recognized that at a given winding unit or bobbin location 31 provided with a winding bobbin 32 mounted at a bobbin bracket 32a and further incorporating a grooved drum 33, of a cross-winder of the type exhibiting a plurality of such winding units 31, as for example illustrated and described in United States Patent No. 3,062,462, invented by Walter Schweiter, granted on November 6, 1962, for Device for Driving Winding Bobbins in Automatic Cross-Winders, and commonly assigned, there is arranged a disc or plate coupling 34. This disc coupling 34 operatively connects the aforementioned winding unit 31 through the agency of belts 35 and 36 with a drive shaft 37 of a suitable drive motor 37a. This drive shaft 37 is common to all the winding units of the cross-winder in a manner permitting uncoupling or disengagement, as will be more fully described shortly. Due to this arrangement, the winding unit 31 can be driven and, as is known, a yarn or thread 38 delivered from a supply cop (FIGURE 1) to the winding bobbin 32 can be wound upon the latter. Located in the path of travel of the yarn 38 is a yarn feeler or sensing means 38a which determines the presence of the yarn or thread 38.

The disc coupling 34 includes a coupling shaft 39 upon which is freely rotatably mounted a belt pulley or disc 40 continually driven by the drive shaft 37 through the agency of the belt pulley 36a and pulley belt 36. For driving the grooved drum 33 and coupling shaft 39, respectively, the latter having fixedly mounted thereon a belt disc or pulley 41 for driving the driving belt 35, there is provided an intermediate member 42 providing a coupling element. The latter is connected for rotation with the coupling shaft 39 and is axially displaceable relative thereto. The intermediate member or coupling element 42 with its frontal face 42a turned towards the belt disc 40, in its upper extreme illustrated position corresponding to the normal operation of the winding unit (FIGURE 5), operably engages with the lower frontal face 40a of the belt disc 40 to provide a frictional contact therewith and couples such in a manner that there results rotation of the coupling shaft 39 and therewith also driving of the grooved drum 33. On the other hand, if the intermediate member or coupling element 42 is displaced into its lower extreme position, there results an arresting of the coupling shaft 39 in that the downwardly displaced intermediate member 42 comes to rest with its lower frontal face 4211 against a brake disc 43 mounted to be stationary with respect to the coupling shaft 39 and secured against rotation by bracket member 43a (FIGURE 1). As a result, the coupling shaft 39 in entrained coupling relation with the intermediate member 42, is braked until it comes to rest.

In an intermediate position of the intermediate member 42 along the coupling shaft 39 and between the belt pulley or disc 40 and the braking disc 43, this coupling shaft 39 and therewith also the grooved drum 33 is freely rotatable, however driven via a friction disc 44. In the illustrated embodiment, this friction disc 44 is fixedly mounted at the lower end of the coupling shaft 39 and can be driven by means of friction wheels or discs 48 and 49 arranged upon a plate member 46 mounted for rocking movement about a pivot shaft 45. Plate member 46 is provided with a drive motor 47 which continually drives the friction wheel 48 for forward movement and also continually drives a friction wheel 49 for the reverse or return movement of the winding unit 31. One or the other of these friction wheels 48 or 49 can alternately be brought into operable driving connection with the friction wheel 44 by selectively pivoting the plate member 46 through the intermediary of an actuating member, here shown as a push rod 50, as will be more fully described shortly.

Displacement of the coupling element or intermediate member 42 along the coupling shaft 39 advantageously takes place by means of a forked or bifurcated control member 52 having a hub portion 52b pivotably supported by journals 520 in bearings 52d and articulated by means of its lever 52a to a rod 51. The opposite end of the rod 51 possesses an annular or ring-shaped collar 51a and this rod is guided in a support or bush 101 affixed to the non-illustrated housing of the machine. A spring 102 is arranged between the support 101 and the collar 51a and acts to displace the rod 51 towards the right, rotating the bifurcated control member 52 in counterclockwise direction, pressing the intermediate member 42 downwardly against the brake disc 43, and thus braking the coupling shaft 39 and the grooved drum 33 respectively (FIGURES 1 and 2). At the frontal face of the collar 51:: there extends out of the rod 51 an axially displaceable bolt member 103 which is urged towards the outside by means of a spring 104. This spring 104 is considerably stronger than the brake spring 102, the force of which it must overcome when actuating the bifurcated control member 52 and only exerts a resilient contact pressure upon the intermediate member 42 towards the pulley disc 40 in the upper extreme position (FIGURE 5).

Now, it is also to be appreciated that the depicted eX- ernplary embodiment concerns an automatic cross-winder possessing a control shaft belonging to the well known and conventional automatic mechanism of such crosswinder. Each disturbance or faulty yarn condition existing at the machine, such as for instance yarn rupture or depletion of the delivery cop or bobbin, places the control shaft 150 into rotation, specifically to carry out one complete rotation through 360. Upon this control shaft 150 there are seated the different cam discs which control or actuate the elements removing the faulty yarn condition or disturbance, wherein in the present situation only two of these are actually concerned with the subject matter of this invention and will be specifically considered. More precisely, the cam disc 151 actuates the pivotable plate member 46 via the push rod 50 and either retains the friction disc 44 of the coupling shaft 39, out of contacct with the drive friction wheels or discs 48 and 49 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 5), in contact with the drive friction disc 49 for the reverse movement (FIGURE 3), or in contact with the drive friction wheel or disc 48 for the forward movement at reduced rotational speed (FIG- URE 4).

The push rod 50 is guided in the support or bush 152 afiixed to the machine housing and possesses an adjustment collar or ring 153. A spring 154 arranged between the support 152 and the adjustment ring 153 continuously presses the push rod 50 against the cam disc 151, so that the position of the plate member 46 is determined by this cam disc 151. The other cam disc 155, which is likewise fixedly seated upon the control shaft 150, through the agency of a push rod or plunger 156 actuates a lever 57 which is pivotably mounted at one end 57b by means of a shaft 570 cooperating with suitable support or bushing means 57d. This pivotable lever 57 possesses a laterally depending control pin 61 and extends with its free end 57a into the operating zone of a pawl 105, the nose 106 of which retains the lever 57 in its upper extreme position as soon as such has been raised by the lunger 156 and the cam plate or disc 155 (FIGURE 5). In the region of the control pin 61, a pawl 59 having a nose 60 is articulated, at 59a, to a lever 53 in such a manner that the nose 60 when freely depending (FIGURE 3) does not come into engagement with the control pin 61. A cam or upright lever 54 is rigidly connected via a rotatably mounted hub or sleeve 53a with the lever 53 and this cam 54 is operably associated with the bolt member or pin 103 and the rod 51 of the bifurcated control member 52. A bell crank or angle lever 55, together with its control pins 55a and 55b, provides an operable connection between a control cam piece 58 of the yarn feeler 38a and the downwardly depending pawl 59. A further operable connection of the yarn feeler 38a with the pawl 105 is provided by the segment 58a carried upon the pivot shaft 58b for control cam piece 58 and the push rod 107.

The manner of operation of the inventive control device, depicted by way of an exemplary embodiment in FIGURES 1 to 5, is as follows: During the normal winding operation depicted in FIGURE 5, the yarn 38 retains the yarn feeler 38a in substantially upright position and, at the same time, by means of the control cam piece 58 and the angle lever 55 provided with its control pins 55a and 55b, the pawl 59 in a position where its nose 60 bears upon the control pin 61. The pivotable lever 57 bears with its free end 57a upon the nose 106 of the pawl 1115 and fixedly holds the lever 53 in its upper extreme position, thereby also the cam 54 in its outermost extreme position against the rod 51. Consequently, the intern1ediate member or coupling element 42 is pressed upwardly against the belt pulley disc 40 through the agency of the lever 52a and the bifurcated control member 52, so that between the plate-shaped frontal faces 42a, 40a respectively, frictional contact exists, the coupling shaft 39 is entrained and the grooved drum 33 is driven for normal forward running. In accordance with the operational position of the control shaft 150, the cam disc 151 is positioned so that the friction disc or roller 44 is disposed between and out of contact with both friction drive wheels or discs 48 and 49.

Assuming now that yarn rupture occurred then the components of the control device assume the position depicted in FIGURE 2. Yarn rupture means that the yarn feeler 38a will fall forwardly, i.e. in clockwise direction, as shown, and by means of its segment 58a pushes against the rod 107 and thus against the pawl 105, the nose 106 of which will consequently release the pivotable lever 57, the latter now dropping downward. Simultaneous with the dropping of the yarn feeler 38a, the control cam piece 58 also frees the angle lever 55 and such in turn also frees the downwardly depending pawl 59, so that its nose 6ft swings out of the operating zone of the pin 61 of the lever 57, and the angle lever formed of the cam piece 54 and lever 53 rotates in clockwise direction and thus releases the rod 51. The spring 102 now presses the rod 51 towards the right and via the lever 52a and the bifurcated control member 52 presses the intermediate member 42 downwards against the brake disc 43, with the result that the coupling shaft 39 and in analogous manner also the grooved drum 33 are braked to standstill. The friction disc 44 still remains without contact intermediate both drive friction wheels or discs 48 and 49. The yarn feeler 38a which falls in consequence of yarn rupture triggers, simultaneous with the described operations, by means of any suitable non-illustrated element and in a manner known to the art, the rotation of the control shaft 150 through 360 at the automatic mechanism of the crosswinder, whereby such complete revolution of shaft 150, from the standpoint of time, takes place throughout all of the depicted operational positions of FIGURES 2 to S. It will be understood that the condition depicted in FIG- URE 2 represents the first stage or phase of the operation, namely bringing the winding station 31 to standstill.

In FIGURE 3 the second phase or stage is depicted, wherein here the wind-up bobbin 32 is driven backwards at reduced rotational speed, i.e. opposite the normal direction of rotation for the winding operation. Rotation of the wind-up bobbin 32 backwards at reduced speed is carried out for the purpose of enabling seizing of the broken yarn end at the wind-up bobbin 32. Since, at this time, an intact yarn is not available, the yarn feeler 38a remains in its ineffectual or dropped position and, thus, also the angle lever '55 and the pawls 59 and 105. The pivotal lever 57 also remains in its lower extreme position in accordance with the design of the cam disc 155. Since the winding station 31, because of the lack of an intact yarn 38, cannot be placed into operation via the yarn feeler 38a, for this operational phase there is provided an auxiliary lever 108 which is rigidly connected with the cam 54 (FIGURE 3). Auxiliary lever 108 rides on or engages with a control cam 157 afiixed to the machine housing and thus via rod 51, lever 52a, and bifurcated control member 52, lifts the intermediate member 42 int-o its contactless intermediate position between the belt pulley disc 40 and the brake disc 43. At the same time, the cam disc 151 rotates or rocks the plate member 46 by means of the push rod 50 in such a manner that the reverse motion drive-friction disc or wheel 49 is placed into contact with the friction disc or wheel 44. Thus, the coupling shaft 39 and the grooved drum 33 are driven with reduced rotational speed opposite the normal direction of rotation, so that the broken yarnend can be seized by a conventional yarn end gripper of the automatic mechanism and delivered to the knotting device, so that this yarn end can be knotted in the usual manner to the yarn depending from the wind-off bobbin or cop.

In the third phase of operation depicted in FIGURE 4, the winding station 31 is driven with reduced rotational speed in the normal wind-up direction of rotation for the purpose of, on the one hand checking the completed knotting operation and, on the other hand, to bring the intact yarn into engagement with the standard yarn cleaner and brake of this winding station. In this stage of operation, the cam disc 151 causes the rod 50 to pivot the plate member 46 such that drive friction wheel 48 now comes into contact with the friction disc 44, and the coupling shaft 39 and the grooved drum 33 are driven with reduced rotational speed in the forward wind-up direction. The now available intact yarn 38 raises the yarn feeler 38a in counterclockwise direction and its control cam piece 53 brings the pawl 59 and its nose 60, by means of the angle lever 55 and its protruding pins 55a and 551), into the operating zone of the control pin 61 located at the pivotal lever 57, so that the lever 53 together with the cam 54 and the rod 51 brace themselves against the cam disc 155 via the plunger 156. In accordance with the design of the cam disc 155, the intermediate portion or coupling member 42 remains in contactless position between the belt pulley disc 40 and the brake disc 4-3, as clearly shown in this figure.

In FIGURE 5 there is depicted the fourth phase of operation corresponding to the normal operating condition for winding of the yarn 38. Here, the cam disc 151 places the friction drive wheels 48 and 49 in the contactless position with respect to the friction disc 44 by means of the rod 56 and the plate member 46. At the same time, the cam disc 155 raises the intermediate member or coupling element 42 into its upper extreme posi tion via the plunger 156, the lever 57 with its control pin 61, the pawl 59 with its nose 60, the rod 51, the lever 52a and the bifurcated control member 52, so that between the frontal face 42a of the intermediate member or coupling element 42 and the confronting frontal face 40a of the belt pulley disc 41 there exists frictional contact which is guaranteed by the spring 104. As a result, the coupling shaft 39 and the grooved drum 33 are driven by the drive motor 37a with normal rotational speed in forward direction. Since the lever 57, in its upper extreme position which prevails during this phase of the operation, bears with its free end 57a upon the nose 106 of the pawl 105, this normal operating position remains, even though the control shaft with its cam discs 151 and 155 has completed its full rotation through 360 and stops in the rest position depicted in FIGURE 2.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Control device for the winding units of a winding machine of the type wherein a yarn is delivered from a supply cop and wound in a yarn package onto an associated winding unit, and if the breakage of the yarn during winding onto the Winding unit occurs the broken yarn ends are subjected to a knotting operation, comprising, in combination: at least one winding unit, a supply cop for delivering yarn to said winding unit to be wound thereon in a package, drive means for driving said winding unit at a predetermined normal speed in a first direction of rotation for normally winding yarn into a package, at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed also in said first direction of rotation for winding yarn into a package upon said winding unit to take up the slack in the yarn between the supply cop and said Winding unit produced by a knotting operation, and at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction for unwinding a portion of yarn from the package upon said winding unit upon breakage of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit, means for controlling operation of said drive means to-enable the later to drive said winding unit at any of the aforementioned speeds and direction of rotation in a predetermined sequence, said controlling means including a coupling mechanism, and feeler means operatively connected with said controlling means responsive to the presence of yarn to operate said controlling means for changing the speed of said drive means. I

2. Control device for the winding units of a winding machine of the type wherein a yarn is delivered from a supply cop and wound in a yarn package onto an associated winding unit, and if breakage of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit occurs the broken yarn ends are subjected to a knotting operation, comprising, in combination: at least one win-ding unit, a supply cop for delivering yarn to said winding unit to be wound thereon in a package, drive means for driving said winding unit at a predetermined normal speed in a first direction of rotation for normally winding yarn into a package, at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed also in said first direction of rotation for winding yarn into a package upon said winding unit to take up the slack in the yarn between the supply cop and said winding unit produced by a knotting operation, and at a given speed in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction for unwinding a portion of yarn from the package upon said winding unit upon breakage of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit, means for controlling operation of said drive means to enable the latter to drive said winding unit at said given speed in said second direction upon yarn breakage, then to drive said winding unit in said first direction of rotation at said speed slower than said predetermined normal speed upon completion of a knotting operation of the yarn being wound onto said winding unit, and then to drive said winding unit at said predetermined normal speed in said first direction of rotation upon determination of renewed presence of the yarn for further winding by said winding unit, said controlling means including a coupling mechanism, and teeler means operatively connected with said controlling means responsive to the presence of yarn to operate said controlling means for changing the speed of said drive means.

3. Control device for the winding units of a winding machine of the type wherein a yarn is delivered from a supply cop and wound in a yarn package onto an associated winding unit, and if break-age of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit occurs the broken yarn ends are subjected to a knotting operation, comprising, in combination: at least one winding unit, a supply cop for delivering yarn to said winding unit to be wound thereon in a package, drive means for driving said winding unit at a predetermined normal speed in a first direction of rotation for normally winding yarn into a package, at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed also in said first direction of rotation for winding yarn into a package upon said winding unit to take up the slack in the yarn between the supply cop and said winding unit produced by a knotting operation, and at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed in a second direction of rotation opposition said first direction for unwinding a portion of yarn from the package upon said winding unit upon breakage of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit, means for controlling operation of said drive means to enable the latter to drive said winding unit as said slower speed in said second direction upon yarn breakage, then to drive said winding unit in said first direction of rotation at said speed slower than said redetermined normal speed upon oompletion of a knotting operation of the yarn being wound onto said winding unit, and then to drive said winding unit at said predetermined normal speed in said first direction of rotation upon determination of renewed presence of the yarn for further winding by said winding unit, said controlling means includ-ing a coupling mechanism, and feeller means operatively connected with said controlling means responsive to the presence of yarn to operate said controlling means for changing the speed of said drive means.

4. Control device as defined in claim 3, said coupling mechanism including a coupling element movable into, a first position in which said drive means drives the associated winding unit at said predetermined normal speed in said first direction of rotation, a second position in which the associated winding unit is braked, and a third position in which the associated winding unit is driven at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed either in said first or second directions.

5. Contnol devce as degned in claim 4, including brake means cooperating with said coupling element when the latter assumes said second position.

6. Control device as defined in claim 5, said controlling means further including lever means for displacing said coupling element.

7. Control device as defined in claim 6, said controlling means further including a pivotably mounted lever and a rod for actuating said pivotably mounted lever.

8. In a winding machine having a plurality of winding units onto each of which a respective yarn is Wound in a package, and if breakage of the yarn during winding onto its winding unit occurs the broken yarn ends undergo a knotting operation, each winding unit including a winding bobbin adapted to be rotatably driven to wind a yarn package thereon, a supply cop for each winding unit for delivering yarn to its associated winding unit to be wound thereon in a package, to control mechanism for each winding unit comprising drive means for driving the winding bobbin of an associated winding unit at a predetermined normal speed in a first direction of rotation for normally winding yarn into a package, at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed also in said first direction of rotation for winding yarn into a package upon said winding bobbin to take up the slack in the yarn between its supply cop and said winding unit produced by a knotting operation, and at a speed slower than said predetermined normal speed in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction for unwinding a portion of yarn from the package upon said winding unit upon breakage of the yarn during winding onto the winding unit, means for controlling operation of said drive means to enable the latter to drive the associated winding unit at said slower speed in said second direction upon yarn breakage, then to drive said winding unit in said first direction of rotation at said speed slower than said predetermined normal speed upon completion of a knotting operation of the yarn being wound onto said associated winding unit, and then to drive said associated winding unit at said predetermined normal speed in said first direction of rotation upon determination of renewed presence of the yarn for further winding by said associated winding unit, said controlling means including coupling means, and feeler means operatively connected with said controlling means responsive to the presence of yarn to operate said controlling means for changing the speed of said drive means.

9. In a winding machine as defined in claim 8, said drive means including a common drive shaft for driving said winding units at said predetermined normal speed, said coupling means being provided for each winding unit for selectively operably engaging and disengaging the associated winding unit with said drive shaft, said coupling means comprising a coupling shaft and a coupling element mounted for rotation with said coupling shaft and axially displaceable relative thereto, said drive means further including operable means for selectively driving said coupling shaft and therewith the associated winding unit at the slower speeds in said first and second directions.

10. In a winding machine as defined in claim 9, said operable means comprising a first driven element for driving said coupling shaft and associated winding unit at the slower speed in said first direction, a second driven element for driving said coupling shaft and associated winding unit at the slower speed in said second direction.

11. In a winding machine as defined in claim 10, said operable means further comprising motor means for driving said first and second driven elements, and means for selectively engaging said first and second driven elements with said coupling shaft.

12. In a winding machine as defined in claim 11; wherein said operable means includes a pivotably mounted plate member rotatably supporting said first and second driven elements, said engaging means comprising a push rod adapted to be actuated from a control unit of the winding machine for displacing said plate member from a neutral position into a position wherein one of the first and second driven elements drives said coupling shaft.

13. In a winding machine as defined in claim 11; said controlling means comprising means for displacing said coupling element from a position in which said coupling shaft is driven by said common drive shaft into a position in which said coupling shaft is driven by one of said first and second driven elements.

14. In a winding machine as defined in claim 12; said first and second driven elements each being constructed as separate friction discs, said coupling shaft being provided with a friction disc selectively engageable with the respective friction disc of said first and second driven elements.

15. In a winding machine as defined in claim 9; wherein said drive means further includes a belt disc freely mounted for rotation on said coupling shaft, belt means drivingly interconnecting said common drive shaft with the associated winding unit, brake means operable with said coupling shaft for braking the associated winding unit, said coupling element being disposed between sad belt disc and said brake means and being movable into one extreme position for drivingly coupling said common drive shaft with the associated winding unit and in another extreme position coupling said brake means with the associated winding unit to brake the latter, said coupling element when in an intermediate position between said one and another extreme positions enabling said drive means to drive the associated winding unit at the slower speed in either the first or second direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,338,914 1/1944 Esser et al. 24235.6 3,033,478 5/1962 Furst 24235.6 3,062,462 11/1962 Schweiter 24235.5

STANLEY N, GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE WINDING UNITS OF A WINDING MACHINE OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A YARN IS DELIVERED FROM A SUPPLY COP AND WOUND IN A YARN PACKAGE ONTO AN ASSOCIATED WINDING UNIT, AND IF THE BRAKAGE OF THE YARN DURING WINDING ONTO THE WINDING UNIT OCCURS THE BROKEN YARN ENDS ARE SUBJECTED TO A KNOTTING OPERATION, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AT LEAST ONE WINDING UNIT, A SUPPLY COP FOR DELIVERING YARN TO SAID WINDING UNIT TO BE WOUND THEREON IN A PACKAGE, DRIVE MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID WINDING UNIT AT A PREDETERMINED NORMAL SPEED IN A FIRST DIRECTION OF ROTATION FOR NORMALLY WINDING YARN INTO A PACKAGE, AT A SPEED SLOWER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED NORMAL SPEED ALSO IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION OF ROTATION FOR WINDING YARN INTO A PACKAGE UPON SAID WINDING UNIT TO TAKE UP THE SLACK IN THE YARN BETWEEN THE SUPPLY COP AND SAID WINDING UNIT PRODUCED BY A KNOTTING OPERATION, AND AT A SPEED SLOWER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED NORMAL SPEED IN A SECOND DIRECTION OF ROTATION OPPOSITE SAID FIRST DIRECTION FOR UNWINDING A PORTION OF YARN FROM THE PACKAGE UPON SAID WINDING UNIT UPON BREAKAGE OF THE YARN DURING WINDING ONTO THE WINDING UNIT, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS TO ENABLE THE LATER TO DRIVE SAID WINDING UNIT AT ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SPEEDS AND DIRECTION OF ROTATION IN A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE, SAID CONTROLLING MEANS INCLUDING A COUPLING MECHANISM, AND FEELER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID CONTROLLING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF YARN TO OPERATE SAID CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CHANGING THE SPEED OF SAID DRIVE MEANS. 